Kennebunk Beach Surf Forecast and Surf Report

Alright, folks, Rusty here. Let’s get real about the next couple of weeks for our local sands. I’ll be honest with you, looking at this stretch, it’s a tough slog. We’ve got a solid 16 days on the books, but the surf is going to be a real struggle for most of it. The first proper recommendation doesn’t even pop up until the 27th of August, so we’re looking at a gap of over a week with nothing worth paddling out for. The energy is just weak, and the wind is mostly working against us. Don’t get your hopes up early.

Kennebunk Beach is the only game in town, and it’s a sheltered spot, so it takes a lot to get it going. For the first week, it’s a mess. Tiny swell, often under 2 feet, with periods under 8 seconds, which is just wind slop. The combined energy is stuck in the double digits and low triple digits, weak stuff (29 to 92). The wind is a constant problem, mostly cross-shore or cross-on, making it choppy and uninviting. There’s a brief moment on the morning of the 23rd of August with a clean 0.7ft wave and an offshore breeze, but it's so small it’s barely a ripple. Not worth the wetsuit.

The real action, if you can call it that, starts to build on the 27th of August. Thursday morning the 27th, we finally see some life. The swell is still only 2 feet, but the combined energy climbs to 154 (moderate) and the wind is a clean, moderate offshore from the NE. The period is a decent 12 seconds, which gives it a bit of push. The afternoon builds on that with a 2-foot swell and 12-second period, 182 combined energy, and light cross-off winds. The waves will be clean, but the size is tiny. It’s surfable, but you’ll be fighting for every bump.

The biggest swell of the window hits on the 28th of August. Friday morning we see 5 feet from the SSE, and by the afternoon it’s 5 feet. The combined energy jumps to 226 and 232 (moderate). But here’s the heartbreaker: the wind swings onshore and cross-shore, making it a choppy, blown-out mess. The period drops to a weak 6 seconds. This is a classic case of the ocean getting angry, but not in a good way. For a beginner, 5 feet is on the edge of being too much, but with the wind and short period, it’s just a messy, lumpy wall. Honestly, this setup looks more interesting for kite surfing than paddle surfing. It’s a no-go.

Saturday the 29th is a bit smaller, with 3 feet of swell, but the wind is onshore. The 30th and 31st are just more of the same: small, weak, and wind-affected. The only other glimmer comes on the 2nd of September. Wednesday morning shows a 3-foot swell from the SE with a clean offshore wind from the ENE and a period of 8 seconds. The combined energy is 136 (moderate). It’s surfable, but nothing to write home about.

So, what’s the best on offer? It’s a sad story, but the standout is the morning of Thursday the 27th of August. It’s the first time everything clicks: clean offshore wind, long period (12s) giving the little 2-foot swell some shape, and moderate energy. It’s for the patient, the hungry, the ones who just need to get wet. The other option is the morning of the 2nd of September, which is clean but a bit smaller and weaker. Both are for logs and mid-lengths, not a shortboard. Don't expect a barrel.

Keep your eyes on the forecasts, but prepare for a flat spell. It’s not always like this, but when it is, you just have to wait your turn.

Rusty.

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